(CNN) - After an angry rant cost Alec Baldwin his show on MSNBC, the former host is blasting the network for keeping host Martin Bashir after he made incendiary remarks about former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

"Martin Bashir's on the air, and he made his comment on the air!" Baldwin told Gothamist, adding that he denies using a gay slur in part of the confrontation.FULL POST

(CNN) - Former Republican Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts dropped the 'MA' from his Twitter handle on Wednesday, further stoking speculation that he's open to running for a U.S. Senate seat in New Hampshire.

Brown has met a number of times with Republicans in New Hampshire, where he owns a vacation home, and when asked by reporters earlier this year if he would consider running for office in the state, he said, "I don't think I'm done with politics, but I'm not going to rule out anything right now because I really haven't thought a heck of a lot about it."FULL POST

(CNN) - The South Lawn of the White House was illuminated Wednesday as thousands were expected to attend the National Hanukkah Menorah lighting, celebrating the start of the Jewish lunar calendar on the first night of Hanukkah.

Thursday, the beginning of Hanukkah and Thanksgiving, carries unique significance as it marks the last time for 70,000-plus years the two holidays will fall on the same date.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) – The National Republican Senatorial Committee, the organization tasked with electing and reelecting Republican senators, has issued a petition that states "President Obama plans to close the U.S. Embassy to the Vatican." The problem: The NRSC’s claim is misleading.

The organization says the move is "the latest anti-religion pursuit of this Administration, a slap in the face to Catholic-Americans around the country that weakens America’s position as a global leader."FULL POST

CNN's GUT CHECK | for November 27, 2013 | 5 p.m.
– n. a pause to assess the state, progress or condition of the political news cycle

DEVELOPING … BIG DELAY FOR SMALL BUSINESS:
Small businesses looking to purchase insurance coverage for their employees will not be able to do so online for another year, the Obama administration announced Wednesday. The delay will give the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services until November 2014 to develop a functioning online enrollment feature for those employers. – Jim Acosta

(CNN) - A Democratic, pro-gun control state senator who faced a potential recall in Colorado abruptly resigned Wednesday, less than a week before the recall petition was due.

Sen. Evie Hudak's surprise resignation means a Democratic committee can appoint a new state senator in her place. Had she stayed in office and possibly faced a recall election, she would have gone up against a Republican, thus risking the Democrats' slim one-seat majority in the state Senate.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) – After an online vote that included a Twitter, Facebook and Instagram campaign, a turkey named Popcorn won a presidential reprieve from the Thanksgiving table Wednesday.

In a White House ceremony, President Barack Obama joined by daughters Sasha and Malia, joked that, "Thanksgiving is a bad day to be a turkey. Especially at a house with two dogs. So I salute our two guests of honor, Caramel and Popcorn for their bravery."FULL POST

President Barack Obama and Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius are urging people to try again on the problem-plagued Obamacare website, insisting it will work better by Saturday's self-imposed deadline to improve its performance from last month's botched launch.